1 in 3 Americans Could Have Diabetes By 2050: How On Earth Will We Cope?

Are you or do you know someone suffering with diabetes? If not, you’re in the minority. The prevalence of diabetes is quickly escalating within the U.S population as more than 23 million adults and children now have the disease.  As shocking as it may sound research from the CDC suggests that by the year 2050 type-2 diabetes may affect one in three people.

That means in 40 years the cases of type-2 diabetes could double or even triple what they are now. The reason for this is partly because of America’s diverse culture, which incorporates at-risk minority groups, plus the rise of obesity among Americans. Regardless of the reason, there has to be a way to properly treat what seems to be a growing epidemic.

Just how safe are mainstream diabetes medications, anyway?

It’s a bleak forecast, for sure, and it’s only natural to be concerned about safe and effective treatments to manage such a widespread disease. Here’s something else to think about. In September of 2010 the FDA required restrictive measures on the popular diabetes drug Avandia because of increased risk of serious heart problems. Now many people are left to wonder just how safe mainstream diabetes medications actually are.

No one is suggesting that people should strike out on their own and search for alternative treatments for diabetes without first consulting their doctor. Diabetes is a serious and complex disease.

However, there are alternative treatments out there - as well as home remedies - to help cope.  And in stark contrast to what mainstream medicine would have you believe, these alternative treatments are not backwoods mumbo-jumbo, but are tested solutions that will help you manage your diabetes safely and naturally.

Alternative home remedies for coping with diabetes.

Because managing diabetes revolves around controlling blood sugar, home remedies often address controlling your diet. When you have diabetes your body cannot process carbohydrates as it should. Either the pancreas doesn’t adequately produce insulin or the body cells become insulin resistant. Either way, glucose can’t enter the cells and so it builds up in the bloodstream leaving body cells with out the energy they need.

Here are a few home remedies that can help you cope.

Eat regularly. Regular meal times decrease the amount of stress your system has to deal with while trying to maintain proper glucose levels.  Don’t leave your body guessing when you’ll refuel or trying to adjust.

Monitor your diet. Some studies show that using olive oil may reduce glucose levels. Replacing vegetable cooking oils with olive oil is simple to do or you can use it in a salad dressing. However, olive oil is high in calories and packing on extra weight makes it even more difficult to manage diabetes. You’ll want to limit the amount you use.

Peanut butter is an excellent protein source and when combined with a carbohydrate, like crackers, you have a healthy snack that will help regulate your glucose.

You’ll also want to limit your access to the saltshaker. One of the side effects of diabetes is high blood pressure and salt only makes the condition worse.

And while some people may think sugar is a definite no-no, even those with diabetes need to have it on hand. When blood sugar gets too low, just a spoonful of sugar or a piece of hard candy, will get your glucose back up to a healthy level.

Asparagus, watercress, and parsley are super vegetables that can also help you manage your diabetes. All three are diuretics that can help with many of the symptoms of diabetes.

People with diabetes do better eating several smaller meals throughout the day rather than loading up on too much food at one meal.

Home solutions outside the kitchen

Obviously, controlling your diet is the mainstay of managing diabetes. But there are other lifestyle changes you can adopt that will help you.

Get plenty of exercise. Proper exercise is good advice for everyone but if you have diabetes it’s even more essential. That’s because exercise optimizes your body’s ability to utilize glucose and insulin.

Watch your oral health. Because high blood glucose levels in the blood makes the mouth a magnet to oral bacteria, people with diabetes have to be extra diligent about oral hygiene. And because people with diabetes often have a decreased ability to ward off infection, tooth decay and periodontal disease is always a threat. It’s more important than ever to brush and floss after eating and before bedtime.

When it comes to managing diabetes, the role of a nutritional diet and proper exercise can’t be stressed strongly enough. Prevention is paramount, followed by early detection and intervention.